 | Board of Visitors minutes September 7, 1870 |  |
The Board met pursuant to adjournment. Present the same
members as on yesterday.
Resolved that the Salary of the Demonstrator of Anatomy
is hereby increased (from and after the 1st of October next)
to $750- The additional amount of two hundred & fifty dollars
to be paid from the Infirmary Fund and resolutions heretofore
passed in reference to that Fund are hereby modified to that
extent and amount- and whilst regular attendance at the Infirmary
shall not be required of the said Demonstrator of
have that Institution in charge to call upon him to share
the duties when highly increased by epedemic or otherwise.
Resolved
That the Salary of the Proctor and Superintendent of
Grounds & Buildings be and the same is hereby increased to
two thousand dollars a year, to take effect from and after
the 1st of October next.
Resolved
That the resolution of 5th Sept. 1867 authorizing the
Proctor to employ a clerk be and the same is hereby repealed.
Resolved, that the Faculty are hereby authorized to grant
indefinite credit, and exemption from the payment of tuition
fees as heretofore practiced to such students as may be proper
subjects of this indulgence, and that the fees so remitted
shall not be counted as part of the receipts of the several
Professors or made chargeable therein in establishing the
maximum of income.
Resolved, that the Board of Visitors have given full and
respectful consideration to Professor Minor's communication in
reference to the establishment of a maximum income to the Professors-
but see no sufficient reason for changing their action
on that subject.
The Rector at the request of the Board submitted the
following
Report of Board to Visitors to Trustees of Miller Fund.
which on motion was adopted and ordered to be spread upon the
minutes-
The Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia, having
fully considered the suggestions made to them by the members
of the Miller Trust Fund- and being naturally anxious to comply
with all the necessary requisitions for securing to the University
the income arising from that fund, and for giving full
effect to the purposes of the liberal and enlightened Donor,
would respectfully make the following communication
They would first call attention to the fact that on the
17th of Sept 1869 they presented for the consideration of the
Miller Trust Fund a detailed plan for Organizing the Agricultural
Department of the University, which seems to be only
defective in the omission to provide specifically for a Chair
of Scientific, Experimental and Practical Agriculture- They
would therefore now simply ask a reconsideration of this Plan
as elaborated in the Report, on the part of the Miller Trustees,
and would state that they have also by Resolution, supplied
the omission indicated, and have established a Chair of Scientific,
Experimental & Practical Agriculture- It will be a
subject of the gravest consideration by the two Boards whether
in view of the transcendent importance of filling this chair
properly whether it is advisable to proceed at once to an
election of the said Professor- It would seem to be better
at once to give full notice both in this country and Europe
that such a Chair has been established and invite proposals
for it- thereby increasing the chances of obtaining the services
of some man eminent not only in the particular Department
of Agriculture, but in the congenial branches of Natural
History
It is proper to state that under the agreement made at
the close of the last session, public advertisement of this
combined meeting of the two Boards has been made in several
papers- but either from insufficiency of notice, or misaprehension
of the character and importance of the proposed election,
the responses have not been such as in the opinion of
the Board of Visitors would justify an election at this time.
In reference to this point however, and indeed to all
matters connected with the important subject which brings them
together- the Board would invite the fullest and freest interchange
of opinions, not doubting for an instant that the result
will be such as to induce the hearty cooperation of
all parties concerned, and the happiest realization of the
objects contemplated by the Donor.
It may be proper to state in conclusion that the subjects
embraced (for the present but looking to future subdivision)
in the new Chair of Scientific, Experimental and Practical
Agriculture might be severally stated as follows-
1. History of Agriculture.
a. Field Culture of Plants (Grains- Grapes, Fruits
used for Food and production of Wine- Fibres- as cotton, Flax,
& Hemp- Tobacco- Hops &c.)
b. Breeding of Animals and care of same (as used for
food, draught-production of Wool, Silk & Honey &c)
c. Forestry (Culture, preservation, and extension of
Forests of useful timbres)
Natural History-
Mineralogy & Geology (including geological origin of soils)
Botany (including development of varieties in the vegetable
kingdom, choice & improvement of seeds, modes of propagation
of Plants &c)
Zoology (including study of insects injurious to vegetation-acclimatization
of useful animals.
This enumeration of the more prominent subjects germane
to this school, is in itself sufficient to indicate the absolute
necessity of careful and deliberate selection of the Professor
who is to undertake its manifold duties.
If desirable a copy of the Plan of Organizing the Agricultural
Department of the University of Virginia together with
the additions herein indicated will be prepared for insertion
in the Minutes of the Miller Board.
The Board would also state that they propose immediately
and as far as practicable to give efficiency to the Experimental
Farm, & to that end would invite the consideration of
the Miller Board to the appointment of a Superintendent of
said farm and provision for his Salary and comfort.
In conclusion the Board sincerely believes, and trusts
the Miller Board will share that belief, that the Agricultural
Department thus organized and started, fully meets all the requisitions
of the Trust under which they act, and that it
may command and receive their zealous cooperation.
All of which is respectfully submitted
Rector of B. of V. of Univ. Va.
Resolved That the Chair of Scientific, Experimental, and
Practical Agriculture in the Agricultural Department of the
Resolved That it is very desirable that a suitable superintendent
of the Experimental Farm should be at once appointed.
Resolved That the application of H. H. Morton a student
of Law of last session for a separate special examination for
Proficiency in the class of Government and Constitutional &
International Law- on the ground of sickness be granted.
The following letter was received from Professor S. Maupin
I have discharged the duties of Chairman of the
Faculty, by annual election of the Board of Visitors, for the
last sixteen years- I have on one occasion at least since the
close of the war, formally expressed to the Board my wish to
be relieved from service in this capacity and I have often
informally expressed the same wish to my friends- Whilst I
have no right to presume that it will be your pleasure to continue
me in this position, I respectfully ask that you will,
by the appointment of another, relieve me from duties which
may be better discharged by some other member of the Faculty.
Resolved That Professor Charles S. Venable be and is
hereby appointed Chairman of the Faculty from and after today
till the close of the ensuing session.
Resolved That in response to the communication of the Proctor
in reference to Prof. Venable's house, he ( the Proctor) is
hereby instructed to have a critical examination made, and
such repairs as he may deem absolutely necessary- the expense
in no case to exceed $100.
Resolved That the sum of $110 be appropriated to defray
the expense of fitting up the Bismark Donation.
Resolved That in view of the expenditure made by Professor
Boeck for Books connected with his School, the Proctor is hereby
instructed to pay (out of any funds hereafter accruing) the
sum of Three hundred Dollars (in addition to the appropriation
of $150 made at the June Meeting of the Board) upon the receipt
of the books and verification of the Accounts by the Librarian-but
this appropriation is made with the distinct understanding
that it is entirely exceptional in view of the great need of
Books by the New School- that it shall not be regarded as a
precedent, but that on the contrary the Board of Visitors will
in no wise hold itself responsible for any purchases made
without its express sanction in advance and under a specific
appropriation for the purpose, mentioned fully and particularly.
Whereas the Board of Trustees of the Miller Fund have
agreed to make an appropriation for building a house for Professor
Mallet on University ground, upon special condition that
in case of separation of said Trust Fund from the University,
the prime cost of said house shall be refunded- the Rector is
hereby authorized and instructed to enter into such written
legal agreement as shall bind this Board or their successors
to fulfil said condition if said separation should occur.
The Board then on motion adjourned to meet again tomorrow
morning at 9 Oclock.
Wm. Wertenbaker
Secretary
F. Johnson Barbour
Rector of U. of Va.
September 8, 1870
The Board met pursuant to adjournment. Present the same
members as on yesterday.
Resolved That the Proctor be instructed under an order
from Prof. Venable to pay to the Instructor in the Mathematical
class the sum of $600 out of the Fees of that school.
Resolved That the sum of $400 be appropriated as salary
for such assistant as Prof. L. J. Boeck may appoint in his
school.
Resolved That the Rector be requested & authorized to
proceed to Cincinnati for the purpose of disposing of the
remaining Bonds- and if necessary to prosecute his Journey
further in accomplishment of purposes connected with the in-
terests of the University.
Resolved That no Scholarship shall be granted until the
candidate shall have graduated in all the schools embraced in
the Agricultural Department, and shall have passed a general
examination on the same- and also that he shall bind himself
to serve for two years in the Department unless relieved by
the Board of Visitors.
Resolved That the Rector and Executive Committee be instructed
to take charge of the disbursement of the appropriation
from the Miller Fund and see that the plans and purposes
are faithfully carried out.
On motion
The Finance Report was taken up and referred to the Executive
Committee, and who were invested with discretionary power
to cut on its recommendations.
The Rector laid before the Board the following letter
from Col. Marmaduke Johnson.
University of Virginia.
I beg leave to imform you that the present is
the eighth week of a painful and most serious illness, which
has not only kept me confined to the house during that time,
under the constant attention of my physicians, but which this
morning finds me so perfectly helpless, that I cannot even
walk across the room.
I deeply regret my inability to attend this
meeting of the Board, and in tendering the above statement
as my reason for doing so, beg leave to assure you of the
respect with which I am
The following proceedings of the Trustees of the Miller
Fund were received and ordered to be entered on the minutes.
Proceedings of the Trustees of the Miller Fund at the
meeting held on the 6th day of Sept. 1870.
Resolved that the Trustees of the Miller Fund adhering
to their views as expressed in their resolutions of the 16th
& 17th of Sept 1869 concur in the general views of the visitors
in their report of Sept. 17th 1869 and Sept 7th 1870 and
respectfully request the Visitors to furnish the Trustees with
copies of said reports and resolutions to be spread on the
minutes of the Board of Trustees as indicating the establishment
by the Board of Visitors of a School of Experimental
and Practical Agriculture in the University of Virginia in
accordance with the provision of the will of Samuel Miller decd.
Resolved that there be appropriated out of the funds accruing
during the present fiscal year the following amounts, Viz.
A sum not exceeding $500 to the Miller Scholarship; A sum not
exceeding $500 to pay for a Tile Machine; a sum of $1000 for
the employment of a Superintendent and hands for the experimental
farm, and a sum not exceedings $7,200 for the building of a house
for Prof. Mallet.
Resolved that it is the purpose of the Board of Trustees
to devote $500 out of the fund received during the fiscal year
commencing on the 1st day of October 1871 to a second Scholarship
if awarded upon a competitive examination embracing all
the branches taught in the Agricultural Department, provided
that the student, to whom such scholarship is awarded, will
remain two years at the University after the scholarship is
awarded unless sooner released by the Faculty.
Resolved that the Board of Visitors be requested at each
annual meeting to furnish the Board of Trustees with a detailed
by the Trustees, and also with a report shewing what they propose
to do with such funds as may be turned over to them
during the next fiscal year.
A Copy from the Minutes
Test
R. T. W. Duke, Secretary
The Board then adjourned sine die.
Secretary
Rector of U. of Va.
| Board of Visitors minutes September 7, 1870 | |